The Diamond League stopped in Stockholm today and did not disappoint, as the world's best athletes once again faced off, as has become the norm this summer, thanks to the new IAAF format introduced in 2010.

If you build it, they will come - no longer are we complaining about not seeing the best athletes go head-to-head...just offer them enough prize money and final overall money (or better yet diamonds) and the athletes will give chase. The result has been some fantastic track and field competition as well as some formerly lesser-known events and their athletes being able to shine.

Full Results are Here.

Women's 5000m

While most of the meet was shown live at universalsports.com, that broadcast did not include the women's 5000m. It looks like we didn't miss much, as it went from a world-record pace set by rabbit Lauren Fleshman down to a sit-and-wait pace before Meseret Defar out-kicked Alemitu Bekele for the win.

This race had been billed as a World Record attempt, and Lauren Fleshman announced her job as the rabbit earlier this week on her blog. Fleshman also took the opportunity to offer her thoughts on pacesetters and whether or not they should be used (she doesn't think so, as it takes away from the competition itself) as well as explaining that while she would be honored to have a part in a world record being set she would rather "sell my body on the street that help another American break the American Record."

This makes sense, as Fleshman could certainly break the AR herself one day, so why would she want to be someone else's workhorse? The way she said it however caused a stir and was quoted by Track & Field News and LetsRun.com among other outlets before she replaced it with "I’d never rabbit an American to an American record in the 5k because it is something I aspire to myself."

Fleshman discusses the race and the controversy surrounding her blog with Ryan Fenton of Flotrack.org:

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Women's Long Jump

This event was over before the live broadcast started as well, but according to the IAAF report, Dariya Klishina of Russia stuck it to her country's selection committee for Junior Worlds by beating the world-class (senior) field despite being left off the team for Junior's.

World Number Two Darya Klishina landed a leap of 6.78m in the second round of a four round competition to silence the ambitions of her elder rivals.

The 19-year-old, left out of the Russian team for last month's World Junior Championships where she would have been a gold medal candidate, won ahead of Brittney Reese and Naide Gomes.

Reese, the Diamond League leader in the long jump and reigning World Champ, almost took victory from Klishina with her last attempt but it was ruled as a foul.

Chaunte Howard-Lowe tried for the first time to compete in the long jump before the high jump. She only jumped once in the long jump and told Ryan Fenton of Flotrack afterwards that she learned it doesn't work well for her in that order:

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Women's Pole Vault

Indoor World Champ Fabiana Murer had an off day as European Champion Svetlana Feofanova took victory with a relatively mediocre 4.71m.

"I'm satisfied fifty-fifty," said Feofanova. "I wanted to win, that is okay, but also jump higher," a fair reflection on an uninspiring competition.

The Russian admitted, "Technically, it was not the best one today. For five metres I need more confidence."

(Source: www.diamondleague.com)

Women's High Jump

After hometown favorite Emma Green missed her final attempt at 1.97m, it was down to superstars Chaunte Howard-Lowe and Blanka Vlasic once again. Vlasic gained momentum when Lowe missed her first attempt at 1.94m, but the two went jump to jump, both making their first attempt at 1.97m and needing two attempts for 2.00, until Lowe missed all three attempts at 2.02m while Vlasic went on to clear it for the win. Lowe still had a backflip and a smile for the crowd, and Vlasic secure her Diamond League victory in the high jump.

Women's 400m

(Reuters Pictures)

European Champ Tatyana Firova excited the crowd with her fast closing speed. Amantle Montsho of Botswana was leading going into the homestretch but Americans Debbie Dunn and indoor 400m American Record holder Francena McCorory tracked her down. As they did so, they did not feel Firova coming up on them in lane 5, and she blazed by them to steal the win in 50.46.

Men's 800m

The pacesetter ungracefully exited the track with half a lap remaining, causing some jostling among the field. Pre-race favorite Abubaker Kaki's heel was stepped on and he pulled up, missing a shoe. Kaki was not happy with the rabbit, as recapped below:

Abukaker Kaki’s hopes of breaking 1min 42sec, or even of winning his fifth consecutive race following his epic defeat in Oslo at the hands of Kenya’s David Rudisha, went west on the back straight after a minor pile up, caused when pacemaker Khadevis Robinson failed to move out of the way decisively.

As the American – who had led the field through 400m more than three seconds adrift of the target time of 50sec - slowed, he had to be pushed to one side by the leader, Poland’s newly established European champion Marcin Lewandowski, who went on to win in 1:45.06. In the confusion, the Sudanese runner was baulked, and ended up involving himself in an animated discussion with Robinson as they walked the final 200 or so metres in the wake of the field.

(Source: www.diamondleague.com)

Women's Steeplechase 

Russia's Yuliya Zarudneva, confident from her victory at the European Championships over World Champ Marta Dominguez, buried Diamond League leader and 2010 World Leader Milcah Chemos Cheywa and Lydia Rotich. Her superior hurdle form throughout the race was the key to her victory, as it was clearly more efficient than that of her Kenyan competition.

American Lisa Aguilera set a 2010 best of 9:37.98 which earned her 8th place ahead of 9th-place Bridget Franek of USA in 9:42.17.

Men's 400m Hurdles

World Leader Bershawn "Batman" Jackson proved to be dominant yet again, winning in a meet record 47.65 as USA rival Angelo Taylor faltered in the final 150m, seeming to be off on his steps. Puerto Rico's Javier Culson sneaked in for 2nd in 48.50 ahead of Taylor.

Men's 100m

(Reuters Pictures)

They held them on the line, announcing each competitor's accolades, stirring the pot of tension and excitement. As the crowd grew louder and louder, the athletes jumped more nervously on the line until finally they were signaled to get into the blocks. Once they did, they were told to stand up and regroup. Again, they were signaled to get into the blocks. A competitor raised his hand to stand the field up. They did as the crowd breathed a collective sigh as they ceased holding their breath. Usain Bolt jokingly collapsed to his knees and rolled over on his back laughing. Tyson Gay kept his game face on and once again they all got back down into the blocks.

POP! goes the gun - Everyone looked for the towering Bolt to take off as he always does but for 50m it was unclear as to who was having a good race.

Until...Tyson Gay charged ahead, leaving Usain Bolt in his dust! Tyson Gay crossed the line in 9.84 with Bolt waaaay back in 9.97. The crowd was on their feet and I thought surely Twitter would crash. Alas, it didn't and we all got to virtually celebrate together.

@PumaRunning tweeted:

The streak comes to an end! Tyson wins in 9.84; Bolt second in 9.97. A good wake-up call that it won't always be easy? 

Bolt was gracious is his post-race interview, saying "Tyson was much more prepared than me," and explaining, "It was just one of those days for me today ... I need to work on my strength because my first 30 meters is crap ... I got a good start ... but there is no power."

Tyson was certainly happy but realistic, saying "Deep down inside I know he wasn't 100%. I'm still looking for the day he's 100% and Asafa is on the line."

Watch the video of the race here (requires Microsoft Silverlight)

Women's 1500m - 3:04pm EDT

World Leader Anna Alminova of Russia pushed the pace after the rabbit finished her job but it was Olympic Champion and excellent tactician Nancy Langat who would put down the hammer and power home for the win in 4:00.70.

Mimi Belete was 3rd in 4:01.64, and Abeba Arigawi was 4th in 4:01.98.

Gelete Burka fell to the track in the first lap but bounced right back up and stayed in the mix until the finish line, which she crossed 6th in 4:02.84 just behind Morgan Uceny, who was the first American in 4:02.72.

Women's 100m Hurdles

(Getty Images)

Olympic silver medalist Sally (McLellan) Pearson made it known that she is back after recovering from an injury by beating a world-class field in a fast 12.57. Priscilla Lopes-Shliep of Canada was 2nd in 12.59 with Lolo Jones placing 3rd in 12.70.

Pearson was rightly beside herself with joy, saying "It was very important for me to win on my road back from injury," said. "I will continue to race until October and my main goal, the Commonwealth Games."

Jones blamed her slow start for her first Diamond League loss:

Rookie Queen Harrison debuted as a pro today, placing 4th in a world class field. Ryan Fenton interviewed her after the race:

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Women's 200m

(Getty Images)

Women Talk Sports member Allyson Felix was described as "poetry in motion" by the announcer. I couldn't describe it better, as she kept her composure as usual all the way to the finish line to win in 22.41. The race was not in the bag until the line however, with fellow Americans Shalonda Solomon close behind in 22.51 and Bianca Knight with a season best 22.59 for 3rd.

Felix however had a different opinion on her race. "I didn't come off the curve the way I wanted to." More:

Men's 5000m - 3:38pm EDT

CHRIS SOLINSKY!! The "big man" lived up to his early-season hype, PR-ing again in the 5,000m in 12:55.53 for 5th. Solinsky stayed with the leaders down to the final lap, but wasn't quite able to finish as quickly. Winner Mark Kiptoo crossed the line in 12:53.46 after the lead changed from Eliud Kipchoge to Imane Merga to Kiptoo in the homestretch.

Solinsky, who set the American Record in the 10,000m in May, showed today that he has truly reached a new level and is here to stay.

Full Meet Results